[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 167 (Tuesday, October 9, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1385]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER SHOULD RETURN HOME EMPTY-HANDED

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                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 9, 2018

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Pakistan's Foreign Minister was here 
this week to urge the White House to renew assistance to his country 
and plead for our help in talks with India. While I do not oppose open 
engagement with Pakistan, our position must be clear: Pakistan will not 
receive a dime of U.S. support if terrorists continue to live safely on 
their soil. For too long the opposite has been the case. Fortunately, 
President Trump has disrupted the status quo and suspended most of the 
funding we give to Pakistan, specifically calling them out for their 
support to terrorism. But more should be done.
  The continued violence in Afghanistan is directly the result of 
Pakistan's protection of the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and other murderous 
terrorists in the region. After 9/11, U.S. and allied forces had 
defeated the extremists in Afghanistan. But Pakistan opened its doors 
to Osama bin Laden, Mullah Omar, and the entire leadership of al-Qaeda 
and the Taliban. We know this because these terrorist thugs were found 
and killed in Pakistan. With Pakistani help, their terrorist networks 
were able to rebuild and launch an insurgency in Afghanistan that has 
killed thousands of Americans.
  It is insulting that Pakistan's Foreign Minister comes to Washington 
and dares to lecture us for holding them to account. Just yesterday, 
another American was killed fighting extremists in Afghanistan. Our 
nation continues to sacrifice to bring peace to Afghanistan, while 
leaders of the Taliban enjoy the shelter of Pakistan. If the Foreign 
Minister was truly interested in restoring the relationship between our 
two countries, he would accept responsibility and acknowledge that 
countless terrorists still live inside Pakistan. His country has been 
the epicenter for extremism for decades, where extremists are still 
able to hold massive public rallies to incite young men to violence. 
This isn't conjecture, the evidence is well documented.
  For example, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the founder of the U.S. and U.N.-
designated terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, operates freely in 
Pakistan. Despite his role in the 2008 Mumbai attack, he leads public 
rallies and can raise money for extremists causes. Yet, Pakistan, 
including its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, consistently defends Saeed 
and condemns U.S. counterterrorism efforts. Pakistan's Foreign Minister 
even claimed terrorist groups that target Pakistan have safe haven in 
Afghanistan under the U.S.'s watch. Yet it is Pakistani officials who 
somehow claim there is a ``good'' Taliban, while the U.S. makes no 
distinction. If the Foreign Minister wanted to earn our trust, his 
government could demonstrate good faith by taking action. This includes 
handing over Mr. Saeed, the leaders of the Taliban and Haqqani Network, 
and banning all extremist groups on its soil. But this is a fantasy. 
The hope that Pakistan would do the responsible thing ended a long time 
ago.
  Now is the day of reckoning. All assistance to Pakistan must end, its 
Major Non-NATO Ally status must be terminated, and the State Department 
should immediately designate it as a state sponsor of terrorism. The 
glad-handing with Pakistani politicians cannot cover for the obvious 
misdeeds of their country. The Foreign Minister came to Washington 
empty-handed and should return to Pakistan empty-handed. Seventeen 
years of appeasing Pakistan has gotten us nowhere and a new course must 
be taken.
  Turn out the lights--the party is over for Pakistan.
  And that's just the way it is.

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